Indexible table



June 26, 1951 W G, BlHLER 2,558,289

INDEXIBLE TABLE Filed Feb. 8, 1946 l 6 Sheets-Sheet l FIEL ATTO R N EYS June 26, 1951 w. '6. BIHLER 2,558,289

INDEXIBLE TABLE Filed Feb. 8, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS June 26, 1951 w. G. BIHLER 2,558,289

INDEXIBLE TABLE June 26, 1951 w. G. BIHLER 2,558,289

INDEXIBLE TABLE Filed Feb. 8, 194e e sheets-sheet 4 am? /4 f ,0M I f ATTORNEYS W. G. BIHLER INDEXIBLE TABLE June 26, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 8, 194e W. G. BIHLER INDEXIBLE TABLE June 26, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 8, 1946 R. m m W.

197' 7' ORNE YS Patented June 26, 1951 Special' Machine" & Engineering YCompany, Hazel Park, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 8, 1946, S'erialfNo. 646,366

(CDW-64)' 9V' Claims.

` This invention relates to an index fixture for indexing Work or tools carried on the rotatable table of the fixture.

Rotatable indexing tables or xtures are not broadly new, but I believe that the hereinafter described iixture has marked'points of superiority and'eiectiveness over what has heretofore been proposed or made. My indexing fixture permits the' indexing table to be turned each time the selected amount' of turn and then iirnilyj' and reliably clamped in an absolutely stationary'p'osition. This is easily done by simply' swinging" a" handle back'the required distance the.V table' is'to turn to pick the table up and then the table is advanced the requiredV distance and an" auto"- matically-operated detent' arrests the table in the correctv position and' at' the' sameA time" the driving connection between the handle`a'nd' the' table' isreleased andthe handle can continuea short'molvement' which serves through suitable nstrum'entalities to securelyv clamp" the' table down against the stationary body of' the'xture to make the table'absolutely'immovable';

Inrthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is'a'n elevation of the' indexing'xtur'e' Showing' itA mountedl on a' bench carrying' work and in position' for "the application of' a tool."l

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig: Sis aplan View of' the' indexing'iixture with" some' of the' parts broken' away'and sectioned to sh'ow' the 'interior construction;

Figs; 4, 5 and 6 are taken' on'correspondingsection lines-of Fig; 3.

Fig: '7 vis a plan view' of ring" that is' fastened to' table.

Fig. 8V is a section on the line 8"-8v of y`Fi'g..7`.'

Fig. 9 is a detail of the cam ring.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modied forni ofl the indexing fixture involving a much larger number of lands'.

Figs. 11 and 12 are details of theA detent used in connection with the latch inthe modiied'form of' construction.

Fig.' 13' is a` section of thepawl andind'exing pin'similar to Fi'g'.' 3' but'upon a planeY above' the section shown in Fig. 3.

Fig; 14 is' a brokenaway view of theclamping mechanism shown at the right in dottedlinesn Fig. 10.

Referring to Fig. 3:4 The handle is' designated' I'. This'is'bolted to a driving ring' 2. An index; ing. or' 'ratchet ring .3 is 'shown in' detail Vin Figs.' 7 anda and comprises a' ring member on thebtl tomof which!are'apluralityjof lands'4'. Their theindexin'g or ratchet shape is shown dotted in Fig. 7. The spaces between the' lands serve as pockets or recessesV fr-thedriving pawl 5 which islpressed by spring sorthat it is adapted to engage in a pocket or' recess when the pawl registers with the same. The indexing ring is bolted to the table by the bolts` 1, as shown in Fig.' 5. The index pin I9 when it registers with the pawl 5 keeps' the ratchet4engaging portion G0 out of' range of the ratchet members 4 (see Fig. 14). When the pawl is. outA ofregistry with the index pin the p'awl may drop into the pocket S'between' the ratchet member 4.

The body or bed 8 of the fixture is shown in Figs. 4, 5. andG. This comprises a' casting'properly machined to provide steps 9, I0' and' II. These are annular and extend clear around' the body.` Step 9 supports the driving ring 2; Bolted to this driving ring is the' cam segment I2. This cam segment seats an annular step I 0 and indexing ring 3 seats on the annular step II. The work tableis designated I3 and is provided with the usual diametrical dovetailed grooves I4 to receive the lower ends of' work clamps I5 which Willbe seen in Fig. 1 clamping the work W in position on the table for the application of'the tool I6`, which is here shown as a drill.`

The operation of the machine` is as follows: The handle I is swung counterclockwise. The portionr'of pawl 5 rides freely 'ov'e'r the' inclined'backs 5I of the lands because it is only theupper portion 6D of the' pawl that is in the plane" of the lands (see Fig. 4). This upper or ratchet engaging portion has a corner chamfered oif'atA 23'. Whenthepawl enters a pocket' 59 between the-lands'the chamfered'portion' 23, as the handle is turned counterclockwise, permits it to pull out ofi the pocket and climb up the next land.` The number of lands ridden over will be determined by the placing of the stop screw 2l which"A is screwed into one of the threadedh'oles 22` to determine the amount the table shall turn each. time. The stop screw` is encountered by the. end' of the cam segment I2v and` thisarrests the whole rotating.. unit I, 2. 5- and I2. Atv the beginning. of the counterclockwise turning (see Fig. 3')` the cam surface I1 onY the cam segment strikes the beveled surface' 20 of the indexing pin I 9 and'` automatically pushes back the' pin and'keeps it back during counterclockwise' rotation. When` the rotating' unit is stopped b'y' the stop'scre'wthe driving pawl has shot' intoA a' peck'et between two lands, and now' by turning the handle' clockwise the pawl engages'the adjacent-land'and-'rotates'the whole unit (L 2. I2.'

3 and I3) clockwise until the pawl and the index pin are again in registry, whereupon the cam I'I again having released the index pin, the pin by reason of the pressure of the spring 24 shoots into the pocket registering with the pins and causes the driving pawl to be pressed into a position of retreat, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the upper portion S of the pawl, and this is the portion that is in the same plane as the lands and is pushed out beyond the lands (see Fig. 13). The underside 52 of the index pin contacting the two beveled surfaces I8 of the under portion of the pawl pushes the pawl back and holds it withdrawn. The handle may now be swung still further clockwise over the next land (see Fig. 13) taking along with it only the driving ring cam surface (see Fig. 3) of the cam segment pushes pin 26 radially inwardly, and this pin has on its end a V-cam 21 which is adapted to constrict the split spring band 28 upon the cam ring 29 (Fig. 4) to pull the cam ring 29 downwardly, carrying nuts 30 which are on stem 3l. This pulls the stem 3l downwardly and pulls the work table I3 iirmly down against the top of the bed of the machine so as to bind the table and bed tightly together and prevents any movement of the table with respect to the bed. This cam pin, cam, split spring band and stem that securely clutches the table to the bed after the index pin goes into operation to release the driving pawl and stop the turning ofthe table.

After the indexing pin has been released by the cam a safety detent prevents the table and the indexing or ratchet ring from being turned as the handle is turned back to grip the table again. This is afforded by a latch 32 (see Fig. 3). On clockwise rotation of the indexing plate the lands strike the beveled surface 33 of the latch and force it out of the way, but the latch each time springs into each pocket between two lands when the pocket registers with the land. This latch forms a detent holding the driving ring against backward or counterclockwise turning movement when the handle is thrown backward or counterclockwise to the stop to latch with the table again preparatory for turning it clockwise again.

In the modied form of indexing fixture shown in Fig. l0, the lands are so spaced that there may be forty-eight of these lands 4a around the indexing ring 3. In place of having the latch drop into each pocket between two lands as the driving ring is swung counterclockwise, the latch is locked in its position of retreat until the stop screw 2I is reached. rthis is effected by means of the latch detent 4i) which has a tooth portion 4I adapted to shoot into the V-recess 42 of the latch 5a when the latch registers with the index pin I9, as shown in Fig. l0. Hence, when the driving ring 2 is swung counterclockwise, the latch is held in its position of retreat by detent lill and tooth 4I until the stop screw ZI is reached, thereupon the head i3 of the detent strikes the stop screw and causes the detent to retreat and compress a detent spring 44. The latch now can shoot into the pocket ahead of the stop screw 2 I.

In place of the cam surface 25 operating directly on pin 26, as shown in Fig. :3, in the modied form of the construction pin 45 on the driving ring strikes the outer end of cam lever 46 and rocks this lever about pivot pin 4l and causes cam surface 48 to push pin 26a radially inwardly causing V-cam 21a to operate in the same way as already explained to constrict the split band form a clutch 2 and the cam segment I2. Thereupon the pawl from the lands, said index pin arresting the.

4 28 (Fig. 3) on the cam ring 29 (Figs. 4 and 5), thereby pulling the work table tightly down on the bed of the machine and preventing any movement of the table with respect to the machine.

From the above description it will be seen that by a simple turning movement of the handle, which in effect is a ratchet lever, the table is given a step-by-step advance and at the completion of each step the table is nrmly clutched or locked in the correct position and is held there against any movement whatsoever while the tool is applied to the work. Furthermore, the table is also prevented by a considerable detent from accidentally being swung back when the ratchet lever is swung back to take another grip on the table. These sever-al functions are accomplished by means of an ingenious arrangement of cams and spring-propelled pins.

I claim:

1. An indexingI fixture comprising a body, an indexing table provided with ratchet members secured thereto and rotatably supported upon the body and a handle member rotatable on the body and provided with a pawl arranged to engage a ratchet member to connect with the table for rotative movement of a determined amplitude, clutching or clamping mechanism operated by a free movement of the handle after the end of the turning movement of the table moving and clamping the table into immovable relation with respect to the body of the machine, and means for releasing the pawl from its engagement with the ratchet member and the table at the end of the predetermined movement of the table so that i the handle may continue in movement to operate the table clamping means, said means comprising a spring-pressed index pin in the body arranged to shoot out when the pawl and the index pin register at the termination of the movement of the index table and which thereby releases the pawl from the ratchet members and the table and permits it to continue its turning.

2. An indexing fixture comprising a body, an index table supported to rotate upon the body in only one direction, a plurality of lands or ratchet members secured to the index table, a ratchet driving member supported to turn on said body and including a spring-pressed pawl for eng-aging and driving a land when the driving member is turned in one direction, an index pin spring pressed from the body and arranged to register with the pawl at the end of the predetermined turning, movement of the table for releasing the movement of the table.

3. An indexing fixture comprising a body, an index table supported to rotate upon the body in only one direction, a plurality of lands or ratchet members secured to the index table, a ratchet driving member supported to turn on said body and including a spring-pressed pawl for engaging and driving a land when the driving member is turned in one direction, an index pin spring pressed from the body and arranged to register with the pawl at the end of the predetermined turning movement of the table for releasing the pawl from the lands, said index pin arresting the movement of the table, and a cam member connected to the driving member for engaging the index pin to depress the same and release the driving pawl to encounter the lands, the said cam holding the index pin released in the backward movement of the driving ratchet member and in the forward movement thereof until the end of the turning movement of the table is reached,

4. An indexing fixture comprising a body, an index table supported to rotate upon the body in only one direction, a plurality of lands or ratchet members secured to the index table, a ratchet driving member supported to turn on said body and including a spring-pressed pawl for engaging and driving a land when the driving member is turned in one direction, an index pin spring pressed from the body and arranged to register with the pawl at the end of the predetermined turning movement of the table for releasing the pawl from the lands, said index pin arresting the movement of the table and a cam member connected to the driving member for engaging the index pin to depress the same and release the driving pawl to encounter the lands, the said cam holding the index pin released in the backward movement of the driving ratchet member and in the forward movement thereof until the end of the turning movement of the table is reached, said cam member comprising a segment secured to the ratchet driving member.

5. An indexing xture comprising a body, an indexing table provided with ratchet members secured thereto and rotatably supported to move only in one direction upon the body and a handle member rotatable on the body and provided with a pawl arranged to engage a ratchet member to connect with the table for rotative movement of a determined amplitude, clutching or clamping P mechanism operated by a free movement of the handle after the end of the turning -movement of the table for clamping or clutching the table into immovable relation with respect to the body of the machine, and means for releasing the pawl from its engagement with the r-atchet member and the table at the end of the predetermined movement of the table so that the handle may continue its movement to operate the table clamping means, the said clutching means comprising a cam which constricts a band and a stem having one end engaging the table and the other end enlarged to be engaged by said constricted band to move the stem longitudinally and cause the table to bind on the body of the machine.

6. An indexing xture comprising a body, an indexing table provided with ratchet members secured thereto and rotatably supported to move only in one direction upon the body and a handle member rotatable on the body and provided with a pawl arranged to engage a ratchet member to connect with the table for rotative movement of a determined amplitude, clutching or clamping mechanism operated by a free movement of the handle after the end of the turning movement of the tablefor clamping or clutching the table into immovable relation with respect to the body of the machine, and means for releasing the pawl from its engagement with the ratchet member and the table at the end of the predetermined movement of the table so that the handle may continue its movement to oper-ate the table clamping means, the said clutching mechanism comprising a radially movable pin located in the body which is cammed by the free movement of the handle to move inwardly, a cam on the inner end of the pin, a spring-split band arranged to be constricted by the cam on the end of the pin, a stem having an enlarged head on its upper end engaging the center of the indexing table and having a tapered enlargement at the lower end arranged to be engaged by the split-spring band, and when this band is constricted to move downwardly to hold the stem longitudinally and thereby cause the tables to bind on the body.

7. An indexing fixture comprising a body, an index table supported to rotate upon the body, a plurality of lands or ratchet members secured to the index table, a ratchet driving member supported to turn on said body and including a spring-pressed pawl for engaging and driving a land when the driving member is turned in one direction, an index pin spring pressed from the body and arranged to register with the pawl at the end of the predetermined turning movement of the table for releasing the pawl from the lands, said index pin arresting the movement of the table, and a safety detent for engaging between the lands to prevent counterturning of the table when the index pin is released and the handle is turned back to take another grip on the table.

8. An indexing xture comprising a body, an index table supported to rotate upon the body, a plurality of lands or ratchet members secured to the index table, a ratchet driving member supported to turn on said body and including a spring-pressed pawl for engaging and driving a land when the driving member is turned in one direction, an index pin spring pressed from the body and arranged to register with the pawl at the end of the predetermined turning movement of the table for releasing the pawl from the lands, said index pin arresting the movement of the table, and a detent for holding said pawl in such released position while the ratchet driving member is thrown pack to the position for picking up the index table.

9. An indexing fixture comprising a body, an index table supported to rotate upon the body, a plurality of lands or ratchet members secured to the index table, a ratchet driving member supported to turn on said body and including a spring-pressed pawl for engaging and driving a land when the driving member is turned in one direction, an index pin spring pressed from the body and arranged to register with the pawl at the end of the predetermined turning movement of the table for releasing the pawl from the lands, said index pin arresting the move` ment of the table, a stop for limiting the back throw of the driving member and a detent for holding said pawl in released position while the pawl is thrown back to the position for picking up the index table, whereupon said detent strikes said stop and is released allowing the pawl to engage behind a land to pick up the index table ready to rotate the same.

WALTER. G. BIHLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 380,496 Leman Apr. 3, 1888 489,398 Towne Jan. 3, 1893 1,445,271 Gent Feb. 13, 1923 1,719,613 Kohler July 2, 1929 1,737,002 De Vlieg Nov. 26, 1929 1,859,111 Rock May 17, 1932 1,946,835 Buhr Feb, 13, 1934 1,985,406 Galkin Dec. 24, 1934 2,201,798 Scott et al. May 21, 1940 2,456,007 Marsilius Deo. 14, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 539,746 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1941 

